heisler



QNo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

O. HEISLER.

INOANDESOENT ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 327,796. Patented Oct. 6, 1885,

(No Mode l.) a Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. HBISLER.

INOANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 327,796. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

EA i MEL 1 v mu (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. HEISLER.

INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP. No. 327,796. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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6. 68. $6M WWW ATTOR/VE N. PETERS PhoilrLMripMr, Wnh'mmon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HEISLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,796, dated October 6, 1885.

Application filed March 24, 1885. Serial No. 159,960. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HEISLER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain Improvement in Automatic Out-Outs for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specificat-ion.

My invention has for its object to provide means for switching in automatically a new incandescent lamp or filament when an old one is destroyed, and for completing the linecircuit when all the lamps or filaments of a given series are exhausted, so that the operation of other lamps or filaments in the same system shall not be interrupted. I accomplish this result by means of a high-resistance electro-Inagnet in a shunt around the lamp or filament, the position of the armature of the said magnet determining whether the circuit shall be complete through one of the lamps or filaments or directly on to line. In another application filed at the same time herewith I ShOW different magnet-connections; but in that application I confine my claims to the specific construction therein disclosed.

In this application I show two single-filament lamps and a cut-out provided with means for switching in the second when the first is destroyed, and for completing the line, as above indicated, when both arein capacitated forservice. Instead of two single-filament lamps I might employ a single lamp having two filaments, and with slight changes I could adapt my cutout to be used with a greater number of lamps, or with lamps having a greater number of filaments. It will be evident, also, that I could make any other number of lamps or filaments besides one the unit-that is to say, I could switch in two or three or any other desired number of lamps or filaments at a time.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and in which the same letters refer to the same parts throughout, Figure 1 is an elevation of my cutout with two single-filament incandescent lamps attached thereto, the casing of the cut-out be ing shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view Fig. 3 is a taken from the right of Fig. 1.

diagram showing my lamps and cut-outs arranged in series. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of the cut-out apparatus alone, taken respectively from the rear and left of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through line 6 6 in Fig.1, looking clown. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the cut-out. Figs. 8 and 9 show the position of the parts when a single lamp is cut out. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show their position when both lamps are cut out; and Fig. 13 is a dia gram of the circuit within the cut-out and lamps.

Referring to the drawings by letter, I? and I? are two incandescent lamps, and I and n are their respective filaments. The ends of the filament l? are connected, as usual, to the lamp terminals, which in this instance assume the form of split posts M and Q. The ends of the filament a are similarly connected to the terminal posts at and N. The lamps are fixed in position by pushing the split posts into the hollow binding-posts Z, L L, and 1%, two of these binding-posts, L and L, uniting to form a common connection, L, for the inner ends of the two filaments. It is evident that a current of electricity entering at L may pass through either lamp, according as the retnrnconnections are arranged to complete the circuit of one or the other. \Vhich lamp shall be in circuit at any given time, or whether either shall be, is determined by the condition of my cut-out device, which forms the subject of my present invention, and which I will now proceed to describe in detail.

The cutout apparatus is supported between two metallic disks, A and 13, the former of which may be regarded as a cap, and the latter as the bottom or supporting plate of the device. These parts are maintained in position by the bars or posts G G in the ordinary manner. A cylindrical casing, 3, incloses the apparatus, fitting into the cap A and surrounding the plate B, to which it is secured by a screw. All the parts within and without the casing are insulated from the frame of the ap paratus by the disks D and D, of insulating material.

The bracket L is usually formedin one piece with a plate or bar, L, the socketed post R in one piece with a plate or bar, r, and the socketed post Z in one piece with a plate or bar, 75'. These plates or bars and their connected parts are secured to the bottom of the cut-out by the insulated screws L, 1- and 7s. The bracket L and the socketed posts Z and R outside the casing of the cut-out are respectively connected to metallic bindingposts K k, and to a frame, S, which supports the shunt-magnet within the casing, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, at, and 7. By reference to Figs. 1 and 7, for example, it will be seen that connection is made between the bracket L and the post K by means of the plate or bar Z and the screw 10. The same figures show the posts Z and 75- connected by the plate or bar 7; and the screw 11, and Figs. 2, 4, and 7 show the post R and the frame S connected by the plate or bar 1' and the screw 12. Thescrews do not come into contact with the bottom of the plate B, owing to the fact that they fit into openings in the disks D and D, which are smaller than the corresponding openings in the plate B.

Gap A is provided with a screw-socket, E,

for attaching the device to its support, and it also carries the binding-posts F and G, to which the line-wires H and I are respectively connected.

' In the normal condition of the apparatus the circuit enters at post F and passes by wire 11 to a conducting-bracket, J, on the post K, and thence through the socketed post L, split post M, and filament P, and back to the post B through the terminal post N. From Bit passes to the lower part of aframe, S, which supports an eleetro-magnet, T, and thence through the springs (Z and uand bars a and p, which parts will be described hereinafter, to the other end of the frame S, and so to the post G and to the line by way of the wire I.

Between the post K and the frame S, and having its terminals connected to the said posts, there is ahigh-resistance shunt, including the electro-magnet T. This electro-magnet is supported in the frame S, as already stated, and has one fixed pole, NV, and one movable pole, X, which latter forms the arma ture of the magnet. It is jointed at Y and extends up, so that its free end is in proximity to the pole \V. A spring, Z, made of nonmagnetic material, keeps the two poles normally apart. The armature has attached toit a non-magnetic bracket, which is provided with catches c and t, as shown. \Vith the catch 0 normally engage ratchetteeth b and r on the bars or rods a and p, respectively. Springs (Z and a tend normally to press the said bars or rods upward, carrying the at tached brackets or arms 6 and o with them. A pair of pins, f and 10, project out from the said brackets or arms under the ends of two pairs of spring-arms, g h and 0c 3 and when the bars or rods are released, as they will be when the catches are moved out of the way of the ratchet-teeth by the attraction of the armature, these pins make contact each with the spring-arms of a different pair, for a purpose to be presently explained. The bar 1),

however, is provided with ratchet-teeth s and (1, arranged in such relation that the tooth s will engage the catch t when the armature is attracted, and the tooth qwill engage the catch 0 when the armature is restored. A single attraction of the armature liberates the bar a. It takes two inward movements to set the bar p free. The spring-arms g andyare connected through the frame S and the wire I with the post G and one end of theline. The springarms 00 and h are connected one through the bracket K, post K, and wire ll with the post F and the other end of the line and the other through the bracket '5, wire j, and post It with the socketed post Z, through which the circuit of lamp P passes.

The resistance of the magnet T is so great that very little of the current passes through it in the ordinary working of the apparatus. \Vhen, however, the filament I breaks, or for any other reason the lamp P becomes inoperative, the entire current passes through the magnet and causes it to attract its armature. This being understood, the function and operation of the remaining parts above described will now be explained. \Vhen the free end of the armature moves inward, in obedience to the attraction of the magnet, the ratchet-bars a and 1), together with their re spective brackets and the pins f and u, are released. The bar p, however, is immediately caught again by the engagement of the ratchet-tooth s with the catch t. The pin f 011 being released makes connection between the spring-arms g and 71 and completes a new circuit, as follows: from post F by wire H, posts K and L, split post N, through filament a to post an, and thence by binding-post Z, post 70, wire j, bracket 2', spring-arm 71., pin f, spring-arm 9, frame S, wire 1, and post G to line. The moment this new circuit is completed the magnet T is shorteircuited and its armature is restored, releasing theratchetteeth 8, but again catching the bar 1) by reason of the tooth. g engaging with the catch 0. A similar operation takes place on the failure of the second lamp, the entire current being forced through the magnet, as before. This time, however, the bar 1) is entirely released and closes a short circuit, as follows, around both lamps: from post F by wire H, bracket J, binding-post K, bracket K, spring-arm 00, pin 20, spring-arm g spring 2, wire I, binding-post G, and thence to line.

Besides the above described automatic means for cutting out the lamps, I provide the following manual means to enable me to switch the apparatus into or out of circuit atany time I may wish. A switchspring, .e', is attached .to a small shaft, 1, pivoted in the bracket J,

and having a knob, 2, outside of the casing 3, wherebyboth the shaft and the spring maybe turned. It is evident that by turning the spring 2; into contact with the binding-screw 4, to which the wire I. is connected, the whole apparatus will be short-cireuitcd and the lamps P and P cut out.

I have found that the attractive force of the pole W for the pole-armature X is considerably greature than if the armature is disconnected from the magnet. This construct-ion in time the destruction of the wire.

of magnet gives special value for the present purpose, where the resistance of the spoolwire must be much greater than the resistance through the lamp, and where there is not space for a large spool without making an unsightly appearance. To give sufficient resistance without using too large a spool, I use very fine wire of a material whose conductivity is some what low, such as German-silver. This gives a magnet of small power where an ordinary armature is used; but with the pole-armature I am able to get the needed attractive force, either with a constant or with an alternating current. v

As incandescent lamps are often used in damp places, Ihave found it necessary to take measures for rendering my electro-magnet weather-proof, it being well known that moistare is likely to injure the insulation of the spool-wire, thereby causing short circuits, and

To obviate this Isaturate the coil with some waterproof material, such as varnish or oil. For a similar reason I also saturate the cement in the neck of my lamp globes or receivers with water-proof material.

As a means for simultaneously restoring the rods a andp to their lower position, I have a push-rod, 5, with a foot, 6, which by the depression of the rod is brought in contact with the upper ends of the rods and forces them down until the armature-tooth c engages the teeth 12 and q of the rods. The part of the foot 6 coming in contact with the rods should be of insulating material, so that the electric current shall not pass from the rods into the foot when they are in contact. The rod 5 worksin a tubular post, 7, which contains a spiral spring, 8, whose upper end bears against the head 9 of the rod 5 and carries up the foot out of contact with the rods a and p when the pressure of the finger has been removed from the head 9. The head or knob plays upon the outside of the tubular post 7 as a guide.

As a modification, the rod 1) may be a duplicate of the rod a, and the device may be used for a single lamp to shortcircuit the electric current and cut out the lamp when it may have become disabled from any cause, the purpose of duplicating the rod a being to make the short-circuiting contact almost certain, as on the failure of one rod, a, the other would act.

It is of course understood that the members of each pair of spring-arms are normally insulated from each other, the insulating material U serving that purpose for one pair and U for the other.

An alternating current may be used with my device, as the alternations are so rapid that the armature will be held constantly in its outer or inner position, according as a part or all of the current is passing through the magnet-coil. The current may, of course, if constant, traverse the apparatus in either direction, from F to G or from G to F.

In Fig. 13 the parts are misplaced and drawn to an independent scale, the design being simply to show the circuits clearly.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with two or more incandescent lamps or conducting filaments, one of which is in the main circuit of an electric lighting system, of an electro magnet in a high-resistance shunt-circuit, the said electromagnet being provided with means for closing the circuit of a second lamp or filament when the first is destroyed or fails for any other reason, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with two incandescent lamps or conducting filaments, an electromagnet in a high-resistance shunt around the first lamp or filament, and means operated by the action of the electro-magnet for switching in the second lamp or filament when the first is destroyed, of means, also operated by the action of the electro magnet, for closing the circuit around both lamps or filaments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for switching in a new incandescent or filament on the failure of the one in use, an electro-magnet, a catch or detent on the armature thereof, a series of springactuated bars engaging with the said catch, and means actuated by successive operations of the magnet, whereby the said bars will be successively released and close the circuit of new lamps or filaments, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for switching in a new electric incandescent lamp or filament on the failure of the one in use, an electro-magnet in a high-resistance shunt around the first lamp or filament, a catch or detent on the armature thereof, a series of spring actuated notched bars engaging with the said catch, and a series of contact arms or springs arranged in pairs, one of each pair forming one terminal of one of the unused lamps or filaments, and means actuated by successive operations of the magnet, whereby the notched bars are released and make contact successively between the terminals of all the pairs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus for switching in a new incandescent lamp or filament on the failure of the one in use, an electro-magnet, T, in a shunt-circuit around the first lamp or filament, an armature, X, catches c and 25, bars or rods a and p, ratchet-teeth b, q, r, and s, and springs g h and x 7, arranged in pairs, one spring of each pair being connected with one pole of the generator, and each of the other springs being connected with the opposite pole through a different lamp or filament, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with two or more electric lamps or filaments, one of which is in the main circuit of an electric lighting system, of

electromagnetic switch and cut-out devices, the electro-niagnet hein g wound with Germansilver wire and having one of its poles hinged or jointed and extending out into the range of I5 the other pole, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

CHARLES HEISLER.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, G150. H. KNIGHT. 

